VOA常速英语2019--美式臭不要脸第n弹：帮助莫桑比克是因为民族慷慨

On March 15, intense Tropical Cyclone¹ Idai made landfall in south-eastern Africa and caused a disaster in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. In early April, USAID Administrator² Mark Green sent Counselor³ Christopher Milligan to Mozambique. He expressed the Agency’s sympathies to the government and the victims of the massive cyclone and the subsequent flooding. He described the devastating⁴ situation there and the need for U.S. assistance:

The cyclone came across and devastated⁵ four provinces of Mozambique, as well as parts of Zimbabwe and Malawi. But what it also did, was create an inland sea of more than 800 square miles in an area with very, very few tall buildings. So a lot of people’s homes and infrastructure⁶ were destroyed by the flooding, as well as the high winds that came with the cyclone.

Some 1.8 million people have been affected⁷ by cyclone Idai. More than 600 people died in Mozambique, while well over 300 died in Zimbabwe, said Counselor Milligan:

The U.S. government provided emergency airlift through the Department of Defense⁸, AFRICOM. We were able, the U.S. government, to run nearly 80 airlift missions, moving about 800 metric tons of food and help bring items to the hard-hit communities.

Indeed, food security remains⁹ a concern, as does an outbreak of cholera¹⁰.

The U.S. government, said Counselor Milligan, has also provided funding to the World Food Program to help feed about 1.7 million people in need. In addition, the U.S. government provided about 2.5 million dollars in emergency relief to Zimbabwe, and over 3 million dollars to Malawi. Mozambique, the hardest-hit country, received over 50 million dollars in assistance.

So why does the United States care about such far-away countries?

We care for many reasons, said Counselor Milligan. We’re a generous people, and one of our key values is our generosity¹¹. And we help those when they’re in need.

The United States has been working with Mozambique for a long time to assist the country recover from a devastating civil war, and to help Mozambique become more self-reliant and stable so it can be a full partner in the international community.

3月15日，强力热带气旋伊代着陆于非洲东南部，导致莫桑比克、津巴布韦、马拉维发生灾难。4月初，美国国际开发署（USAID）署长马克派参事克里斯托弗前往莫桑比克。他表达了该署对该国政府及其受害者的同情，同情他们遭受了大规模气旋和随后的洪灾。他描述了那里的悲惨情况以及美国援助的必要性：

伊代来袭，导致莫桑比克4个省份以及津巴布韦和马拉维的部分地区受到重创。此外，伊代也导致一个内陆海产生，这片海方圆800多英里，其周边地区都是非常矮的建筑物。因此，很多人的家和基础设施都遭到了洪灾的毁坏，罪魁祸首还有伊代带来的强风。

近180万人受到了热带气旋伊代的影响。有莫桑比克和津巴布韦的死亡人数分别达到600多人和300多人，参事克里斯托弗如是说道。

美国政府提供了应急空运，具体实施部门是国防部美军非洲司令部。我们美国政府可以执行近80次空运任务，将大概800公吨的粮食送过去，此外将一些屋子带给受到重创的各社群。

不可否认的是，粮食安全依然是令人忧心的问题，此外还有霍乱的爆发。

参事克里斯托弗表示，美国政府已经向世界粮食计划署提供了资金，以帮助为近170万有需要的人提供粮食。此外，美国政府提供了近250万美元，作为应急救援提供给津巴布韦，此外还将300多万美元捐助给了马拉维。莫桑比克是受创最为严重的国家，它收到了美国5000多万援助金。

那么，美国为什么要如此关心偏远的国家呢？

参事克里斯托弗表示，这其中有很多原因。美国是慷慨的民族，我们重要的一个价值观就是慷慨待人。所以我们会帮助那些有需要的人。

长期以来，美国一直在跟莫桑比克一道合作，以协助该国从毁灭性的内战中恢复过来，同时也帮助莫桑比克成为更加自立、更加稳定的国家，这样莫桑比克才能在国际事务中充分与他国合作。

1 cyclone   

n.旋风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• An exceptionally violent cyclone hit the town last night.昨晚异常猛烈的旋风吹袭了那个小镇。
• The cyclone brought misery to thousands of people.旋风给成千上万的人带来苦难。

2 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

3 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。

4 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

5 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

6 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

7 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

8 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

10 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

11 generosity   

n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为

参考例句：

• We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
• We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。